Tokyo's Skytree takes tourism to new heights

TOKYO -- Three inches of glass. That's all that separated me and a small group of tourists from the great plunge.

We were standing some 1,500 feet above the world's most populous city on the tippy-top observation deck on the Skytree -- the world's second-tallest building. Some danced across the see-through floor. Others put one foot in front of the other warily, as though they were working up the nerve to slip into a pool of icy water.

The glass floor -- and its stainless steel cross beams -- is capable of holding 80 kilograms, or about 176 pounds, of weight per square centimeter, or about 0.15 square inch, said a reassuring Sho Toyoshima, a Skytree spokesman.

It is indeed. If anyone needed any reminder of the genius of the Japanese, a trip to the Skytree, which opened in May, will instill a proper sense of awe for the impressive feats of engineering this island nation is able to accomplish.

The 2,080-foot Skytree -- a communications tower that includes offices and the most spectacular panoramic views in Japan -- is overshadowed only by Dubai's 2,716-foot Burj Khalifa skyscraper. It is the newest attraction for visitors -- and locals -- in the city of more than 32 million people. Some 6.4 million people are expected to visit the Skytree in its first year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

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"It is one of the icons of Tokyo," said Yohko Scott, a spokeswoman for the organization. "While the tower opened in May, it was there for quite a long time during construction. Everyone could see the tower. As soon as it opened, so many Japanese rushed in."

The spearlike structure embodies Japanese technological and design sensibilities. Unlike the Eiffel Tower, which rises up on four legs, the Skytree rests on tripodlike three legs, which not only gives the building its unique shape but also takes up less space in one of the world's densest cities. The steel-mesh structure includes a curve design called "sori and mukuri" -- inward and outward -- found in classic Japanese temple architecture. Its name -- Skytree -- aims to evoke a giant tree rising into the clouds.

The Skytree is located in the Asakusa district. The surrounding area, known as Tokyo Skytree Town, includes office buildings, an open-air market lined with cherry blossom and red pine trees and an aquarium.

The Skytree is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and is about a two-minute walk from the Tobu Skytree Station or a 15-minute stroll from the Asakusa Station.

It took some 580,000 workers to build the tower in three years and eight months. The structure, built in country known for its shifting ground, has a central pillar made of reinforced concrete connected to the tower's frame with "oil dampers," or shock absorbers, that the building's designers say can absorb 50 percent of the energy from an earthquake.

The elevator that rockets visitors to the observation deck takes less than a minute. The ear-popping ride -- which covers 1,150 feet -- delivers guests to a high-elevation world inhabited by helicopters. Walk another 330 feet upward along the observation corridor and you've risen above the clouds -- and can literally straddle the world below.

The roomy observation deck can accommodate 2,000 people. In addition to top-of-the-world views, it also has a restaurant and cafe. On a clear day, visitors can see the majestic Mount Fuji and countless landmarks in the sprawling metropolis: the Rainbow Bridge, Asia's largest suspension bridge; Senso-ji Buddhist Temple; the Imperial Palace, home to Japan's emperor; and the red-framed Asakusa Temple.

A circular glass corridor takes visitors higher. On rainy days, one can look down on a rainbow, said Toyoshima, who spends much of his working hours amid the clouds. On some days, he enters the Skytree with rain washing over the city. At the top of the structure, snow is swirling outside.

Traveling to Tokyo:Travelers have a number of options for nonstop flights to Tokyo. From Mineta San Jose International Airport, All Nippon Airways.From San Francisco International Airport: All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, United Airlines, US AirwaysStaying there:Luxury, Shangri-La Hotel, $550 a night; moderately priced, Royal Park Shiodome Tower, $175; budget, Hotel Bougainvillea Shinjuku, $70.Visiting Skytree:General admission for adults, about $23-$28, with price breaks for teens, children and people with disabilities. To order advance timed tickets and to get information on day-of tickets, check the website, www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/reservation/.Getting around Tokyo:Because Tokyo's taxis are exceedingly expensive, it's best to take the subway. While it can be an intimidating plunge underground for newcomers, Japanese residents, even those with limited English, are very helpful.